Previously on The Catalyst, I have written about what the passage of this year's patent reform law, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, means to biopharmaceutical research companies.
But in the grand scheme of things, we represent just one industry in America that relies on patents (and other forms of intellectual property) as an incentive for the work that we do.

There probably aren't many of us who don't know seniors who get their prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D. Now that the open enrollment period has begun - and ends early this year, on December 7 - it's helpful to remind those loved ones about the importance of evaluating their current plans to see if their needs are being met. If not, they can find out if there are better options available.

Yesterday, Medicare Today released the latest Part D satisfaction survey. The results of the survey show that once again enrollees are highly satisfied with the program - this year to the tune of an 88 percent overall satisfaction rate.

Today, I went to the doctor about a sinus infection that I can't seem to kick. As part of our new attack on this virus, he prescribed me an inhaler, then stepped out of the examining room. He returned a moment later with a sample of the inhaler so that I could begin this important treatment regimen as soon as possible.

We'd like to give you a heads up that tomorrow, October 15, kicks off the 2012 open enrollment period for Medicare Part D. This marks the time when eligible beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare prescription drug coverage - Part D - for the first time or to switch to a plan that better meets their needs. This year the open enrollment period goes through December 7.

Yesterday, Congress - with an unusually high level of bi-partisan support - passed the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. PhRMA has supported this effort for a long time and thinks that the transparency, ethical business practices and intellectual property provisions achieved in the agreement represent a good baseline for other agreements now under consideration - such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The Campaign for Modern Medicines (@modernmeds) and Eli Lilly & Company (@LillyPad) would like to invite you to join two separate Tweetchats on Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit program. I'm participating and I hope you will too!

Our digital wizards have created another great video, this one about the more than 900 new target="_blank">biologic medicines that are currently in development to treat more than 100 diseases. It features both researchers - including the chief medical officer of Novo Nordisk, Dr.

Today, FDA released a new report, "Driving Biomedical Innovation: Initiatives for Improving Products for Patients." The report, according to the agency, is an outline of "immediate steps that can be taken to drive biomedical innovation, while improving the health of Americans." Not surprisingly, we believe this to be a tremendously vital and valuable topic of discussion.